Spartak Moscow is to launch a spending with the aim of turning the club into a rival to European giants like Barcelona, the Russian team’s owner Leonid Fedun said Sunday.

Spartak lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, but Fedun said the narrow defeat was not enough.

“I’d have been satisfied with a draw,” he said.

“For me, the main thing was to see the weak points in my team that need strengthening so it can compete with teams like Barcelona.”

Asked whether this meant new signings, he said: “Yes.”

Spartak brought in Brazil midfielder Romulo and Sweden’s Kim Kallstrom in the summer, but was outshone by rivals Zenit St. Petersburg’s record €40 million signings of Hulk and Axel Witsel.

Spartak finished second to Zenit in the Russian Premier League last season and is sixth this campaign after nine games.